Flow regulator



July 8, 1947. w. BADEN 2,423,633

FLOW REGULATOR Filed Feb. 11, 1946 ZVzZ/z'mrz jaw e71,

Patented July 8, 1947 UNITED STATES'IPAVTENT OFFICE.

FLOW REGULATOR. William Baden, Chicago, 111.

Application February 11, 1946, Serial No. 646,862

This invention relates to a pipe fitting and more particularly to suchfittings to be installed in a one pipe system and constituting auniversal fitting that can be used either as a supply or return fitting.

The type of fittings heretofore in use for hot water heating systems,and other purposes, in a one pipe system in which each radiator isconnected to the main pipe line by supply and return risers, has beensuch that the desired heating efl'lciency has not been attained, andthere has not been the proper distribution of liquids in the system.Also such prior fittings have been such as not to efiectively separatethe higher temperature liquids from the lower temperature liquids, andnot to provide the desired minimum of comingling of high and lowtemperature liquids, as well as being too numerous in quantity andexpensive to install.

By the present invention I have overcome the above disadvantages, andhave provided a new form and type of fitting which is economical toproduce and install, is effective in operation, and is universal in useas the same fitting may be used as either a supply or a return fitting.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a novel and improvedpipe fitting; to providea novel pipe fitting in which provision is madefor better separation of the higher temperature liquids from the lowertemperature liquids; to provide a pipe fitting which may be used eitheras a supply or a return fitting by turning the fitting upside down andend for end; toprovide in a one pipe system,- in which each radiator isconnected to the main pipe line, supply and return'risers-in the use ofwhich the desired heating efliciency has been maintained or increasedand affording the proper distribution of liquids in the system; toreduce to the minimum the comingling of high and low temperatureliquids; to provide fittings for acne pipe system in which the supplyfitting and the return fitting are identical in construction butreversed in position to provide a separate supply fitting and a separatereturn fitting, or to incorporate the supply fitting and the returnfitting into a unitary structure as desired; and such further objects,advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the combinatlon, construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and whileI have shown therein a preferred embodiment I wish it understoodthat-the same issus- 5 Claims. (Cl. 13837) ceptible of modification andchange without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a fragment of a one pipe system andshowing the supply and return fittings connected to two radiators.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 except that the supply and returnfittings have been incorporated into a unitary structure.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical central section through a pipe fittingembodying the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation looking toward the left hand side of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical central section through a modifiedform of my fitting.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation looking toward the right hand side of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal transverse section on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

In the form shown for illustrative purposes in the drawings, myinvention comprises a body portion I having a longitudinal opening 2therethrough and formed at the opposite ends with screw threads 3 and anenlargement 4 to receive a wrench for tightening the same on the pipesof the pipe system. As seen in Fig.1 my supply fitting is indicated at 5and my return fitting (which is identical in construction with thesupplyfitting) is shown at 6. The supply fitting 5 is connected by pipe1 to the inlet end of a radiator 8 and this radiator at the opposite endhas a return pipe 9 connected to the return fitting 6. The supply pipe 1leads laterally from one side of the fitting 5, while on the other sideof this same fitting is another supply pipe l0 leading to the inlet endof another radiator l I, from the opposite end of which leads the returnpipe l2 to the return fitting 6 on the opposite side from that of returnpipe 9. The main pipe line is indicated at l3 and will contain as manyof these supply and return fittings as may be needed for the number ofradiators or other heating or cooling devices in the building. It shouldbe remembered that with separate supply and return fittings there willbe a supply fitting for one or two or more radiators and one returnfitting for the same number of radiators.

:As the supply fitting and the return fitting (when separate fittingsare used) are identical I willdescribe here in detail the supply'fittingwith the understanding that the return fitting is in reality the samefitting except that when it is used as a return fitting it is turnedupside down and end for end as compared with its position or inclinedwall IS, the curvature of which corresponds to that of the walls of theopenings l1 and 18 of the laterally and oppositely projecting.extensions l9 and 20. These extensions arcinteriorly threaded at 2!, 22to threadably receive the adjacent ends of the supply pipes 1 and H1-when used as a supply fitting, and to thread'aibly receive the adjacentends of the return pipes 9 and i2 when used as a return fitting.

Extending upwardly from the center of the cross partition M is avertical longitudinal partition 23 which at its upper edge integrallymerges into the inner face of the top portion of the fitting and extendsforwardly to integrally join curved end wall l6. As will be understoodthis completely blocks off any direct connection between the laterallyextending openings I1, l8 as will be seen in Fig. 5. Therea'r end ofvertical partition 23 is in line withthe rear edge of the crosspartition 14. From this construction it will be seen that when thisfitting is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the heated water will flowthrough the main pipe line 13 into the fitting from the left hand sideas viewed in Fig. 3, the hotter portionof such water being at the ,topand the. cooler portion of such water lloeing at the bottom of the.fitting. This means that the hotter portion of the water will flow intothe spaces above the horizontal cross partition M and o-nboth sides ofthe vertical partition 23. It will then be diverted sidewise in oppositedirections through the tubular projections .19 and 2E! and through thesupply pipes I and IE to the radiators 8 and H. As explained above thissame fitting willalso be used as a return fitting by turning it upsidedown and end for end at which time it will assume th'e'position shown atthe bottom right hand corner of Fig. 1. When in this position tofunction as a return fitting the hot Water, after passing'through theradiators 8 and H, will fiow through return pipes 9 and i2, throughopenings I1 and I8, and into the spaces on each side of the verticalpartition 23 below the cross partition M from which it will fiowforwardly (to the right in'Fig. 1) in the main pipe line. At this timethe spaces on each side of the vertical partition 23 will be at thebottom and the cooler water (cooled somewhat during its passage throughthe radiator and return pipes) will be at the bottom where it should be.This water being cooler will then continue to flow along the lowerportion of the one pipe system. 7 v

In Figs. 6-8 I have shown a modification in which the supply fitting andthe return: fitting are integrally connected into'a single unit. In thismodification the body portion of the fitting is indicated at l and inthe left hand side as viewed in Fig. 6 the arrangement of the horizontalcross partition l4 and the vertical partition 23' is the same as that ofthese parts in Fig. 3. In other words, the left hand side of the fittingshown in Fig. 6 isstructurally the same as that shown in Fig; 3. r InFig. 6, however, I have eliminated the necessity of turning'thesup- 4ply fitting upside down and end for end to enable it to function as areturn fitting, by constructing the right hand half of the fitting shownin Fig. 6 to correspond to what would be the structure of the supplyfitting after it has been turned upside down and end for end, and havejoint 6 integral with the opposite supply end described above. Thisenables me to construct the supply and return parts in a single unitwhich is connected to the radiators in the manner shown in Fig. 2. InFigs. 6-8 the same reference numerals have been used for correspondingparts as in Fig. lexcept to add a prime thereto for the supply end and adouble prime for the return or discharge end. The end portions 4 in Fig.3, and 4' and 4" in Fig. 6 may have any desired contour to betterreceive a Wrench or other turning element, such as being formed with anydesired'number of fiat faces, depressions, knurling or the like.

From the above it is seen that I have provided a simple form of fittingof greatly improved efficiency of operation, in which the liquid ofhigher temperature is skimmed off or separated and caused to flow abovethe horizontal cross partition .in the supply fitting (or the supply endof the unitary fitting) so that the hotter portion of the liquid willpass directly into the radiator or radiators and when returned to thereturn fitting (or the return end of the unitary fitting) the water,after having passed through the radiator and being correspondinglylowered in temperature. will be discharged for further passage throughthe main pipe line below the horizontal cross partition from both sidesof the branch connections. This. directs the liquid in accordance withits temperature to the place most required.

It is also to be noted in both Figs. 3 and 6 that that portion of theliquid below the horizontal cross partition I 4 in the supply fitting(or l4 in the supply end of the unitary fitting) continues on throughthe fitting and will be skimmed off from the upper side at the nextsupply fitting for use in other radiators. Also it is to be seen that inFig. 6 the liquid passing through the fit.- ting below the cross supplypartition l4. passes over the horizontal cross partition l4" and henceaccomplishes a' minimum of comingling'of liq uids when passing theseparts in the fittings. The fitting described herein creates a distinctseparation, at desired points, of liquids of different temperature anddirects such liquids to the place desired for greatest efiiciency, atthe same time avoiding undesired turbulence or bucking action of theliquids with relation to the stream in the main pipe. The arrangement ofthe horizontal and vertical partitions gives an equal division of flowof liquids to and from the fixtures. If it is desired to serve only oneradiator, one of th lateral side openings of the fitting may bepluggedup as desired. It is also to b understood that these universal fittingsvwill be connected in a main pipe line which starts from a boiler,preheater or the like, and returns to the same in the proper manner. 1'

1. A pipe fitting comprising a tubular main portion and a pair oflaterally extending tubular projections whose axial center lineis offsetup- Wardly from the longitudinal center line of the main portion,ahorizontal cross'partition in the mainportion having an upwardly andforwardly extending end portion to form a space'aboveithe partition openat its rear end. to the'interioriof the tubular main portion, and avertical partition extending upwardly from the horizontal partition tothe top of the inside of the tubular main portion to divide said spaceinto two parts, one of said parts connecting with the tubular interiorof one of said laterally extending projections, and the other of saidparts connecting with the tubular interior of the other of saidlaterally extending projections.

2. A pipe fitting as claimed in claim 1, in which the vertical partitionis substantially in the middl of the horizontal partition, and extendslongitudinally therealong and contacts the upwardly and forwardlyextending end portion thereof.

3. A pipe fitting comprising a longitudinally extending tubular portionand a pair of laterally extending tubular portions whose interiorsconnect with the interior of the first mentioned tubular portion, alongitudinally extending horizontal cross partition in the firstmentioned tubular portion extending from behind the lateral portions tothe front side thereof and joining the top of the first mentionedtubular portion, and a vertical partition extending longitudinally alongthe upper side of the horizontal partition to form two passagewaysleading from the upper portion of the inside of the first mentionedtubular portion respectively to the interior of the two lateralportions, whereby the hottest part of the liquid flowing through thefitting will pass above the horizontal partition and through said. twopassageways to and through said lateral portions when the fitting ispositioned in a pipe line with said two passageways at the top.

4. A pipe fitting as claimed in claim 3, of extended length and havingin the front end portion of the longitudinally extending tubular portionsimilarly formed but reversely positioned laterally extending tubularportions, horizontal cross partition and vertical partition whereby thehottest water will be skimmed from the top of the water flowing along amain pipe line containing the fitting and passed as supply to one ormore radiators, and the return fiow from the radiators will pass throughthe reversely positioned passageways into the bottom and cooler portionof the stream flowing through the main pipe line.

5. A pipe fitting having adjacent its rear end a horizontal crosspartition which at its forward end merges integrally into the top wallof the fitting and at its side edges is integrally connected with theside walls of the fitting, a vertical partition extending upwardlybetween the cross partition and the top of the fitting to form twoseparate spaces above the cross partition, said fitting having lateralopenings adjacent the forward end of the cross partition each of saidlateral openings being in communication with one of said separate spaceswhereby the hotter supply liquid passing through the fitting will passabove the cross partition to the lateral openings, said fitting havingadjacent its forward-end a pair of laterally extending openings and ahorizontal partition closed at its rear end around said last mentionedlateral openings, and a vertical partition extending downwardly betweenthe last mentioned horizontal partition and the bottom of the fitting,to pass the cooler return liquid from these lateral openings to thebottom of the fitting.

WILLIAM BADEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 577,793 Stewart Feb. 23, 18971,092,385 Parker Apr. 7, 1914 2,045,669 Newton June 30, 1936 2,284,937Wood June 2, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,080 GreatBritain May 27, 1905

